Subtracting From Myself: What Happens When Numbers Meet Their Match?

Math Grades 1st Grade 7:24 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Let's explore what happens when we subtract a number from itself. Get ready for some super simple math fun!

Video Resource

Learn Grade 1 - Maths - Subtracting a number from itself

KidsClassroom - Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs

Duration: 7:24
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Subtraction
  • Zero
  • Equality

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to subtract a number from itself.
  • Students will understand that subtracting a number from itself results in zero.
  • Students will be able to represent subtraction problems as equations.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what happens when you take something away. Use examples like taking away crayons from a box. Then, introduce the idea of taking away the *same* number of items that you started with.
  • Video Viewing (3 mins)
    Watch the video 'Learn Grade 1 - Maths - Subtracting a number from itself' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKzZc4HavMA). Encourage students to pay attention to the examples given in the video.
  • Guided Practice (7 mins)
    Work through example problems on the board: 3 - 3 = ?, 5 - 5 = ?, 7 - 7 = ?. Use manipulatives (like counters or blocks) to visually demonstrate the concept. Have students come to the board to solve problems.
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Distribute a worksheet with subtraction problems where students subtract a number from itself. Include problems like 4 - 4 = ?, 9 - 9 = ?, 2 - 2 = ?, and 6 - 6 = ?.

Interactive Exercises

  • Act It Out!
    Have students act out subtraction problems using themselves as the objects. For example, have 4 students stand up, then have all 4 sit down. Ask, "How many students are standing now?"

Discussion Questions

  • What happens when you have 5 apples, and you eat all 5 apples?
  • Can you think of a time when you took something away from yourself?

Skills Developed

  • Subtraction skills
  • Problem-solving
  • Understanding of zero

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is 2 - 2?

Correct Answer: 0

Question 2:

If you have 5 cookies and you eat 5 cookies, how many cookies do you have left?

Correct Answer: 0

Question 3:

What is 8 - 8?

Correct Answer: 0

Question 4:

When you subtract a number from itself, the answer is always...

Correct Answer: Zero

Question 5:

What is 1 - 1?

Correct Answer: 0

Question 6:

If you have 3 toys and you give away all 3 toys, how many toys do you have left?

Correct Answer: 0

Question 7:

What is 6 - 6?

Correct Answer: 0

Question 8:

Subtracting means to...

Correct Answer: Take Away

Question 9:

What number is the same as nothing?

Correct Answer: Zero

Question 10:

What is 10 - 10?

Correct Answer: 0

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

4 - 4 = _______

Correct Answer: 0

Question 2:

9 - 9 = _______

Correct Answer: 0

Question 3:

2 - 2 = _______

Correct Answer: 0

Question 4:

6 - 6 = _______

Correct Answer: 0

Question 5:

7 - ___ = 0

Correct Answer: 7

Question 6:

11 - 11 = _______

Correct Answer: 0

Question 7:

If I have one toy and I give that one toy away, I will have ______ toys left.

Correct Answer: 0

Question 8:

When you take a number away from _______, the answer is zero.

Correct Answer: itself

Question 9:

15 - 15 = _______

Correct Answer: 0

Question 10:

0 is the same as ________.

Correct Answer: nothing

Educational Standards

1.OA.C.6:Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 - 4 = 13 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 - 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13). 1.OA.B.4:Understand subtraction as an unknown-addend problem. For example, subtract 10 - 8 by finding the number that makes 10 when added to 8. 1.OA.D.7:Understand the meaning of the equal sign, and determine if equations involving addition and subtraction are true or false. For example, which of the following equations are true and which are false? 6 = 6, 7 = 8 - 1, 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, 4 + 1 = 5 + 2.

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz Export to Google Docs
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans